FROM   THE   LIBRARY  OF 


REV.    LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 


BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 


THE   LIBRARY  OF 


PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY 


No.  429. 


A  PLE 


FOR 


SACRED     MUSIC 


A    PREMIUM    TRACT. 


BY   REV.   EDWARD   W.   HOOKER,   D.  D. 


PUBLISHED   BY    THE 

AMERICAN    TRACT    SOCIETY, 

150   NASSAU-STREET.    NEW-YORK. 


D.  Fanehaw,  Priiittr. 


2  A    PLEA   FOR    SACRED    MUSIC. 

the  .in sic  or  the  i»+ ire  oil 

If  it  were  proper  here  to  speak  of  the  music  of  the  pal- 
lor, we  should  feel  constrained  to  proscribe  the  mass  of 
popular  songs,  and  say  they  ought  never  to  be  sung.  They 
are,  to  an  amazing  extent,  either  insipid,  vulgar,  profane 

centious  in  their  tendency,  and  in  their  positi 
.   We  have  heard  christian  females  sing  such  songs 

re  not  only  popular  in  the  theatre  and  the  midnight 
revel,  but  appropriate  to  them,  rather  than  to  the  fireside 
of  a  religious  or  a  cultivated  family.  Not  to  name  others, 
such  a  blasphemous  effusion  as  "the  Evening  Song  to  the 
Virgin" — which  is  a  prayer  to  the  virgin  Mary — is  not 
unfrequently  performed,  when  a  request  is  made  for  t 
sacred  song.  The  popular  taste  is  so  far  vitiated, 
young  ladies  seem  to  have  forgotten  that  there  are  some 
ears  to  be  gratified  with  pious  sentiments,  or  offended 
with  that  which  is  corrupting  in  morals,  and  dissipatin  j 
in  its  influence  on  the  mind  and  heart.  The  deleterioi  > 
effect  of  fictitious  reading  seems  to  have  extended  to  th  • 
musical  literature  and  taste  of  the  country,  and  made 
one  of  the  purest  sources  of  enjoyment  a  channel  for 
the  merest  sentimentalism,  or  what  is  infinitely  v. 

We  could  wish  that  American  females  might  proi, 
the  reply  of  an  accomplished  Swiss  lady  of  our  acquaint- 
ance, who,  on  being  asked  to  sing  some  popular  song  in  a 
large  and  genteel  party,  said  that  tf  the  members  of  her  fa- 
ther's family  all  played  and  sung,  and  derived  much  of  their 
enjoyment  from  this  source  ;  but  that  she  had  never  heaMft 
or  sung  any  other  than  songs  of  a  religious  character 
der  her  paternal  roof;  and  she  wondered  at  the  taste  of 
a  christian  country  where  other  and  insipid  songs  were 
popular."  Yet  she  is  a  perfect  mistress  of  the  piano,  aid 
in  the  purest  taste.    Will  not   the  individual 

je  hand  this  Tract  may  fall,  if  she  possesses  this  de- 
d  accomplishment,  purge  her  collection  cf  s< 
of  the  accumulated  trash  which  may  probably  be  f< 
there!    And  will  she  not  ask  herself  the  question,  how 
ihese  same  ill  affect  her,  should  they  crowd  1 

her  memory,  when  her  \  <  .  and  when  those  fn  [ 

which  have  wander*  icefully  over  the  keys  of  her 

t,  begin  to  grow  stiff  in  death!  r.  s.  c. 

No.  -129. 


No.  429. 
A  PLEA  FOR  SACRED  MUSIC. 


The  word  of  God  appoints,  and  christians  have  ever 
maintained,  three  distinct  exercises,  embraced  in  public 
worship, — prayer,  preaching,  and  sacred  song.  Each  of 
these,  in  its  place,  is  important.  Christians  should  sustain 
them  all.  On  the  truth  and  justice  of  these  remarks,  as 
they  apply  to  sacred  music,  we  base  our  plea  in  its  behalf. 

When  we  speak  of  sacred  music  for  the  common  use 
of  a  christian  assembly,  we  refer  especially  to  composi- 
tions having  the  simplicity  and  brevity  of  Luther's  Old 
Hundred,  Hamburgh,  St.  Martin's,  Duke-street,  Dundee, 
Elgin,  Wells,  and  others  like  them;  tunes  which  can  be 
adapted  to  many  psalms  and  hymns ;  and  which,  perform- 
ed with  the  variety  of  expression  suited  to  the  sentiments 
ind  character  of  the  poetry,  will  bear  repetition  in  three, 
four,  or  five  stanzas,  without  dull  uniformity.  Such  music, 
connected  with  words  and  performed  with  proper  ex- 
pression, has  an  eloquence  delightful  and  powerful;  and 
which  may  pervade  the  perfoimance  of  a  common  psalm- 
tune,  as  well  as  of  an  air,  recitative,  duet,  or  of  a  chorus 
in  Handel's  Messiah  or  Haydn's  Creation.  With  this  ex- 
planation, then,  in  pleading  for  good  sacred  music,  we 
shall  be  understood  to  speak  of  that  which  is  practicable 
by  all  well  trained  singers,  and  within  the  means  of  any 
congregation  able  to  support  the  Gospel. 

Valuable  collections  of  psalms  and  hymns  have  been 
prepared  for  use  in  connection  with  sacred  music,  and 
are  found  in  our  places  of  public  worship.  These  are  prin- 
cipally adapted  to  musical  compositions  of  the  charac- 
ter already  described.  They  open  a  wide  field  for  the  elo- 
quence of  music.    They  comprise  choice  lyrical  pieces, 


4-  A    PLEA    FOR    SACRED    MUSIC.  (4 

general  duty  of  praise.  They  are  instructions  to  the  use 
of  music  in  union  with  "  psalms  and  hymns  and  spiritual 
songs,"  as  means  of  acceptable  worship.  Ancient  saints 
practised  on  these.  David  so  much  used  sacred  song  for 
devotional  purposes  that  he  was  called  "the  sweet 
psalmist  of  Israel."  Paul  and  Silas  sang  praises  to  God 
in  the  prison  at  Philippi.  Israel  at  the  Red  Sea,  after  the 
destruction  of  their  Egyptian  pursuers,  broke  forth  in 
most  lively  songs  of  gratitude  and  joy.  Sacred  song 
made  a  very  important  and  interesting  part  of  the  temple 
services  at  Jerusalem,  and  occupied  the  time  and  talents 
of  4,000  of  the  best  musicians  in  the  nation.  To  read  the 
histories  of  some  of  the  sacred  festivals  of  the  Jews,  and 
of  the  music  by  which  they  were  rendered  august  and 
imposing,  cannot  fail  to  move  the  feelings  of  any  man 
who  has  "music  in  his  soul."  They  help  our  conceptions 
of  the  meaning  and  devotional  spirit  of  David,  when  he 
said,  "  The  Lord  is  in  his  holy  temple  ;"  "  Enter  into  his 
courts  with  thanksgiving  and  into  his  gates  with  praise." 
2.  The  effects  of  music  furnish  an  argument  for  its  use 
m  divine  worship.  All  men  are  moved  by  it,  more  or  less. 
A  single  song,  used  in  France,  and  appealing  powerfully 
to  popular  feeling,  was  one  of  the  instrumentalities  in 
bringing  on  that  revolution,  which  many  years  since 
surprised  half  the  civilized  world  with  its  terrors.  The 
effects  of  the  first  performance  of  the  Hallelujah  Chorus 
in  Handel's  Messiah  were  such  as  to  raise  the  vast  assem- 
bly from  their  seats,  almost  unconsciously  to  themselves. 
Music  not  only  powerfully  affects  man,  but  even  the 
lower  animals.  If  such  then  be  the  power  of  music,  it 
should  be  regarded  as  of  inestimable  worth  in  aiding  the 
devotions  of  immortal  beings  assembled  as  worshippers 
of  "the  Most  High  God."  Let  the  Church  patronize, 
cultivate,  and  employ  it  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  is 
so  eminently  adapted ;  and  what  may  it  not  accomplish 
for  the  advancement  of  piety  and  devotion  1 


5)  A  PLEA  FOR  SACRED  MUSIC.  5 

The  christian  comes  to  the  sanctuary,  burdened  with 
trouble  and  sorrow,  afflicted  with  some  bereavement, 
or  beset  with  temptations,  or  oppressed  with  a  sense  of 
unworthiness  and  guilt  before  God.  How  sweetly  the 
soothing  influence  of  sacred  sonof  will  sometimes  come 
over  his  spirit.  It  calms  the  troubled  waves  of  his  soul, 
as  did  the  voice  of  Jesus  the  stormy  sea,  when  he  said, 
w Peace,  be  still!"  The  christian  is  thus  led  to  adore 
a  Father  who  "pitieth  his  children."  "Awake  and  sing, 
ye  that  dwell  in  the  dust,"  says  the  Scripture  ;  and  from 
deepest  sorrows  thus  break  tenderest,  sweetest  songs. 
The  weight  under  which  the  soul  has  been  bowed  down 
is  removed.  The  mourner  is  comforted;  the  trembling 
believer  established,  quickened,  strengthened;  the  con- 
trite heart  sweetly  drawn  to  a  reconciled  God;  and  cou- 
rage is  gathered  by  the  christian  for  the  "  good  fight 
of  faith." 

Eminent  christians  have  testified  their  experience  of 
the  benefits  of  sacred  music,  as  they  have  those  derived 
from  meditation,  prayer  and  hearing  the  word.  A  devoted 
female  missionary,  speaking  of  a  Sabbath  service  in  a 
dark  and.  dreary  land,  writes,  "My  soul  was  refreshed, 
particularly  in  the  singing ;  and  I  thought  of  the  bliss  of 
heaven."  President  Edwards  writes,  "  I  often  used  to  sit 
and  view  the  moon  for  continuance  ;  and  in  the  day  spent 
much  time  in  viewing  the  clouds  and  sky,  to  behold  the 
sweet  glory  of  God  in  these  things;  in  the  mean  time 
singing  forth  with  a  low  voice  my  contemplations  of  the 
Creator  and  Eedeemer."  "I  felt  God,  so  to  speak,  at  the 
first  appearance  of  a  thunder-storm;  and  used  to  take 
the  opportunity,  at  such  times,  to  fix  myself  in  order  to 
view  the  clouds  and  see  the  lightnings  play,  and  hear  the 
majestic  and  awful  voice  of  God's  thunder,  which  often 
times  was  exceedingly  entertaining,  leading  me  to  sweet 
contemplation  of  my  glorious  God.  While  thus  engaged, 
it  always  seemed  natural  to  me  to  sing  or  chant  forth  my 


6  A  PLEA    FOR    SACRED    MUSIC  (6 

meditations,  or  to  put  my  thoughts  in  soliloquies  with 
a  singing  voice." 

The  deepest  feelings  of  the  christian,  then,  find  the 
most  natural  channel  for  their  flow  in  music.  This  ac- 
counts for  the  fact,  that  in  the  Scriptures  sacred  song 
is  .described  as  the  medium  of  the  liveliest  joys  and  most 
exalted  praises  of  heaven.  The  most  inspiring  songs  of 
earth  are  immeasurably  surpassed  by  those  heard  in  the 
temple  "  not  made  with  hands,"  and  from  the  choir  of  the 
" New  Jerusalem."  There  is  worship  to  God  perfect; 
praise  offered  "in  the  beauty  of  holiness."  There  per- 
forms a  choir  "which  no  man  can  number,"  and  which 
has  been  formed  and  taught  by  the  Son  of  God.  There 
are  employed  harps,  M  strung  and  tuned  for  endless 
years."  Eternity  will  never  know  dissonance,  nor  weari- 
ness, nor  faltering,  in  the  songs  of  praise  before  "the 
throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb."  "  The  ransomed  of  the 
Lord  shall  return  and  come  to  Zion  with  songs,  and  ever- 
lasting joy  shall  be  upon  their  heads."  "  And  they  sung  a 
new  song,  saying,  Thou  art  worthy  to  take  the  book  and 
to  open  the  seals  thereof,  for  thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  re- 
deemed us  to  God  by  thy  blood."  "  And  I  heard  the  voice 
of  harpers,  harping  with  their  harps;  and  they  sung  as 
it  were  a  new  song  before  the  throne  and  before  the  four 
beasts  and  the  elders;  and  no  man  could  learn  that  song 
save  the  hundred  and  forty  and  four  thousand  which  were 
redeemed  from  the  earth." 

Now  we  cannot  suffer  heartless  criticism,  disjoined 
from  taste  for  either  earthly  or  heavenly  harmonies,  to 
wrest  from  us  our  faith,  or  discourage  our  anticipations, 
that  music  will  minister  to  the  bliss  for  which  we  hope 
in  heaven.  We  do  and  will  believe  that  "  sounds  of 
glory"  will  help  to  swell  the  "  amazing  joys  "  of  the  re- 
deemed. While  the  pious  soul  takes  wings  from  amid  the 
scenes  of  earthly  worship,  and  dissolves  in  tenderness 
and  joy  under  the  power  of  sacred  music,  there  is  rap« 


7)  A    PLEA    FOR    SACRED    MUSIC.  7 

ture  in  the  thought,  "  If  so  sweet  be  the  songs  of  Zion 
on  earth,  what  must  be  the  holy  harmonies  of  heaven  !" 

3.  We  argue  for  sacred  music,  because  its  cultivation 
and  'performance  are  within  the  ability  of  all.  God  has 
given  to  men  musical  powers  as  freely  as  those  of 
speech ;  and  early  and  assiduous  cultivation  would  as 
fully  develope  the  one  as  the  other.  This  has  been  be- 
lieved by  but  very  few,  till  of  late  ;  and  it  still  is  doubt- 
ed by  many.  And  those  who  do  believe  in  the  univer- 
sality of  musical  powers  have  been  long  and  slowly 
coming  to  this  point.  But  experiment,  that  sure  test 
of  the  soundness  of  opinions,  has  demonstrated  it.  Let 
your  child  be  as  early  and  faithfully  taught  to  sing  as 
to  read,  and  he  will  make  a  singer  as  certainly  as  he  is 
made  a  reader.  Proper  musical  education  of  the  young,  in 
past  years,  would  have  made  our  present  congregations 
great  choirs  of  singers.  There  is  at  this  moment,  in  all 
our  religious  assemblies,  a  vast  amount  of  musical  talent 
unimproved,  "  buried  5"  and  account  must  be  given  for 
this  in  the  last  day,  as  for  other  unimproved  talents. 

There  are  in  our  places  of  worship,  every  Sabbath, 
hundreds  of  listeners,  or  perhaps  inattentive  endurers 
of  defective  musical  performances,  who  ought  to  be  en- 
gaged in  raising  the  songs  of  joy  and  praise  towards 
the  throne  of  heaven.  To  many  of  these,  not  even  now 
too  old  to  learn  to  sing  the  praises  of  God  in  his  sanc- 
tuary, we  say,  "  Unbury  your  talents,  cultivate  them, 
consecrate  them,  and  use  them  in  praise  of  their  Giver. " 

Many  a  man,  in  common  conversation,  uses  a  voice 
full,  clear,  musical,  and  yet  has  never  learned  any  thing 
more  than  Old  Hundred,  or  perhaps  a  military  air. 
Many  a  woman,  in  the  social  circle,  speaks  with  a  voice 
soft,  sweet,  melodious,  and  adapted  for  the  service  of 
sacred  song  ;  but  has  perhaps  never  learned  more  than 
a  popular  love  song  or  a  nursery  lullaby.  "  These  things 
ought  not  so  to  be."   It  is  ingratitude  to  God,  the  Giver 


8  A    PLEA    FOR    SACRED  MUSIC.  (8 

of  such  powers,  not  to  cultivate  and  employ  them  in  his 
praise.  Scarce  a  bird  is  there  in  all  "  the  firmament 
of  heaven"  but  raises  some  notes  to  the  praise  of  the 
Creator  ;  and  shall  man,  whom  he  has  made  but  M  a 
little  lower  than  the  angels,"  be  silent ! 

The  question  may  be  asked,  rf  Is  it  necessary  that  all 
should  sing  who  can  1"  But  if  sacred  song  be  worship 
to  God,  then  the  question  is  not,  "  how  many  performers 
are  needed  1"  rather,  H  who  can  be  excused  from  the 
duty  of  singing,  any  more  than  from  joining  in  prayer  V9 

But  we  reply  to  the  questions  stated,  as  apparently 
anticipating  the  danger  of  having  too  muck  power  or 
quantity  in  the  service  of  sacred  song ;  that  there  cannot 
be  too  many  voices  nor  too  much  music  in  any  reli- 
gious assembly,  if  the  voices  be  properly  cultivated, 
and  if  it  be  music  which  is  made,  and  not  solemn  jargon. 
The  writer  once  listened  to  four  hundred  singers,  sus- 
tained by  the  powers  of  a  noble  organ,  in  one  of  our 
city  churches.  It  was  music,  in  the  true  sense  of  the 
word.  Among  other  tunes  performed  was  that  noblest 
of  all,  Old  Hundred,  in  which  the  whole  congregation 
were  requested  to  join  with  the  choir.  Two  thousand 
voices  were  then  poured  forth  to  swell  the  majestic 
river  of  song.  Yet  such  was  their  harmony,  and  so  ju- 
diciously and  admirably  were  the  powers  of  the  organ 
brought  out  in  accompaniment,  that  there  was  not  one 
voice  too  many,  nor  one  breath  of  instrumental  aid  too 
much.  We  have  read  of  commemorations  of  Handel 
and  other  great  musical  festivals,  for  which  were  as- 
sembled the  musical  talent  and  skill  of  all  Europe  ;  but 
we  do  not  remember  to  have  read  of  too  much  music 
on  such  occasions.  No  ;  assemble  a  choir  of  ten  thou- 
sand, around  an  organ,  if  you  please,  vast  as  a  cathedral 
or  a  palace  ;  let  harmony  blend  and  bind  all  together  ; 
and  although  the  sublimity  and  majesty  of  the  perform- 
ances may  overwhelm  an  audience  of  millions,  still,  of 


9)  A  PLEA  FOR  SACRED  MUSIC.  9 

music  there  will  not,  cannot  be  too  much.  John  listen- 
ed to  a  voice  M  upon  mount  Zion,"  "  as  the  voice  of 
many  waters,  and  as  the  voice  of  a  great  thunder  ;"  but 
he  appears  to  have  felt  no  oppression  of  his  senses  ;  for 
it  was  a  voice  full  of  the  music  of  heaven.  The  notes 
were  mighty,  and  yet  sweet  and  delightful  as  the  glory 
which  surrounds  the  eternal  throne. 

4-.  Appropriate  sacred  music  is  a  'powerful  auxiliary 
to  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel.  When  the  minister  of 
Christ  has  "  reasoned  out  of  the  Scriptures,"  pressed 
truth  and  precept  upon  men's  consciences  ;  warned,  en* 
treated,  pointed  to  the  "  judgment  to  come,"  heaven 
and  hell ;  then,  in  the  appropriate  psalm  or  hymn,  mu- 
sic, like  a  voice  from  heaven,  speaks  to  the  inmost 
soul.  The  unconverted  hearer  who  has  been  instructed, 
convinced  and  made  serious  by  the  sermon,  may  melt 
and  weep  under  the  pathos  of  the  "  lovely  song,"  which 
speaks  of  mercy,  hope,  "  the  throne  of  grace  ;"  and  of 
Christ  as  the  sinner's  friend,  refuge,  Savior,  and  "  the 
Prince  of  Peace."  The  backslider,  shown  by  the  word 
his  way  of  grievous  departure,  when  music  falls  upon 
his  ear,  perhaps  in  the  words, 

"  Return,  O  wanderer !  return, 

"  And  seek  an  injured  Father's  face/' 

may  melt  like  Peter  under  the  tender  yet  piercing 
look  of  his  Lord.  Under  the  solemn  preaching  of  the 
word  the  deep  fountains  of  the  soul  become  full  and 
swollen  ;  and  thSh  music  breaks  open  those  fountains, 
and  makes  to  flow  penitence  or  joy,  or  both  sweetly 
mingled. 

There  are  few  hindrances  to  the  efficacy  of  preach- 
ing liable  to  exist  in  connection  with  public  services, 
which  a  solicitous  minister  will  more  earnestly  depre- 
cate than  bad  psalmody.  Let  a  sermon,  uniting  the 
solemnity  and  richness  of  Baxter  with  the  eloquence  of 
Saurin  or  Massillon,  be  preceded  by  psalmody  from  the 


10  A    PLEA    FOR    SACRED    MUSIC.  (10 

bad  effect  of  which  the  sermon  must  recover  the  assem- 
bly before  it  can  profit  them  ;  or  let  such  preaching  be 
followed  by  singing  which  offends,  through  discord- 
ancy, or  inappropriateness,  or  confusion  of  time,  or  in- 
expressiveness,  or  perhaps  through  all  of  these  together  ; 
and  there  is  a  sacrifice  of  spiritual  benefit,  a  waste  of 
the  toils  of  a  Aveek  of  study,  and  a  frustration  of  the 
ends  of  preaching,  for  which  the  minister  might  sit 
down  in  his  pulpit  and  wreep.  The  writer  once  attended 
an  evening  service  in  one  of  our  city  churches,  and 
listened  with  deep  interest  to  a  discourse  on  that  de- 
lightful text,  M  Whereby  are  given  unto  us  exceeding 
great  and  precious  promises."  It  was  an  admirable 
sermon.  The  soul  of  the  preacher  was  in  every  sen- 
tence, and  gave  unction  and  eloquence  to  the  whole.  It 
should  have  been  preceded  and  followed  with  music 
services  in  keeping  with  that  sublime  thought  of  Watts, 

"  The  voice  that  rolls  the  stars  along 
*c  Speaks  all  the  promises." 

But  the  singing  was  mere  sound,  with  scarce  an  attri- 
bute of  music  ;  and  would  have  been  jeered  in  the  social 
circle,  and  hissed  in  the  theatre.  Gabriel'himself  might 
preach,  and  the  effect  of  his  eloquence  would  be  marred 
by  a  music  service  so  void  of  harmony,  heart  and  ex- 
pression. A  christian  church  even,  through  indifference 
to  sacred  music,  or  parsimony,  or  both,  may  neglect 
this  part  of  the  services  of  the  sanctuary,  to  the  embar- 
rassment, if  not  utter  prevention,  of  the  usefulness  of 
the  best  preaching ;  and  to  the  destruction  of  the  sym- 
metry and  beauty  of  the  whole  appointments  of  the 
house  of  God. 

Churches  and  congregations  should  be  mindful  that 
responsibility  rests  upon  them  for  all  which  is  lost  of 
the  proper  effect  of  the  pulpit  services,  through  their 
neglect  to  provide  suitably  for  those  of  sacred  music. 
Ministers  share  in  this  responsibility  also  j  for  their  in- 


11)  A    PLEA    FOR    SACRED    MUSIC.  11 

terest  or  indifference  respecting  this  part  of  divine  ser- 
vice will  influence  their  people.  And  here  let  it  be 
respectfully,  yet  earnestly  urged  upon  the  considera- 
tion of  some  ministers,  whether  the  extensive  neglect 
of  the  cultivation  of  sacred  music  has  not  been  owing 
to  their  own  failure  to  press  the  duty  on  their  people, 
and  to  their  indifference  to  it  as  a  part  of  divine  wor 
ship.  Every  minister  should  regard  good  sacred  music 
as  an  invaluable  means, — along  with  the  faithful  dispen- 
sation of  divine  truth, — for  the  edification  of  his  own 
and  the  souls  of  his  hearers.  If  he  should  be  anxious 
to  preach  wejl  of  God  and  his  truth,  so  should  he  be  so- 
licitous that  his  congregation  shall  offer  to  the  God  of 
truth  acceptable  sacrifices  of  praise, — shall  sing  well 
M  the  songs  of  Zion." 

5.  We  plead  for  sacred  music,  because,  as  much  as 
prayer  itself,  it  is  worship  of  God.  The  psalms  and 
hymns  in  common  use  embrace  all  the  parts  of  prayer- 
invocation,  adoration,  confession,  petition,  intercession, 
thanksgiving,  praise,  and  ascription.  In  performing  them 
we  profess  devotional  approach  to  God.  All  the  solem- 
nity attaches  to  sacred  song  which  attaches  to  prayer. 
Performed  with  right  feelings  and  in  a  right  manner,  it 
will  always  be  communion  with  God,  the  entrance  of 
the  soul  into  the  spirit  of  those  in  the  upper  temple, 
who  cry,  "  Holy,  holy,  holy  is  the  Lord  God  of  hosts  !" 

The  cultivation  of  sacred  music,  therefore,  should  be 
regarded  as  preparation  for  a  service  in  which  God  is 
to  be  approached,  who  is  "  great,  and  greatly  to  be 
feared,  and  to  be  had  in  reverence  by  all  them  that  are 
about  him."  The  feelings,  spirit,  sentiments,  habits  of 
deportment,  which  should  be  cultivated  in  the  scenes 
of  musical  instruction  and  practice,  must  be  those  of 
devout  seriousness  and  religious  emotion.  And  the 
singer  should  be  a  christian  ;  should  feel  that  "  the 
place  whereon  he  standeth  is  holy  ground,"  that  he  ap- 


12  A  PLEA  FOR  SACKED  MUSIC.  (12 

proaches  M  the  throne  of  grace  ;"  and  that  he  performs 
services  in  which  God  "  requireth  truth  in  the  inward 
part."  He  must  not  be  a  mere  vocalist  or  amateur, 
making  an  exhibition,  delighting  the  ear  and  regaling 
the  taste  of  an  audience  of  dying  men.  He  must,  in 
singing,  offer  the  sacrifices  of  the  heart.  His  soul  must 
go  up  in  fervent  aspirations  to  God.  Singing  the  songs 
of  the  sanctuary  is  a  service  scarcely  less  serious  than 
preaching  and  prayer. 

To  the  question,  then,  "  how  shall  the  spirit  of  devo- 
tion be  promoted  in  our  congregations  VJ  it  is  one 
proper  answer,  "  make  psalmody  what  it  should  be,  as 
a  solemn,  heart-felt  act  of  worship  to  God."  The  spiritu- 
ality appropriate  to  prayer  and  preaching  belongs  equal- 
ly to  "  the  service  of  song."  And  when  performers,  as 
christians,  throw  their  souls  into  this  service,  and  when 
the  attending  assembly  join  them  in  sincerity  of  heart, 
then  will  be  rf  offered  up  spiritual  sacrifices,  acceptable 
to  God."  Then  will  holy  affections  be  increased  in  the 
hearts  of  christians  ;  and  the  sanctuary  will  be,  to  the 
assembled  throng,  M  the  house  of  God — "  M  the  gate  of 
heaven." 

The  limits  of  this  Tract  admit  but  a  brief  notice  of  some 
misapprehensions  and  erroneous  habits  of  thought  among 
christians;  which  need  correction  and  removal  before 
sacred  music  can  have  its  proper  place  in  the  estimation 
of  the  churches. 

Christian  people  must  cease  to  regard  sacred  music 
as  a  matter  on  which  they  can  be  indifferent,  or  of  the  sup- 
port of  which  they  can  be  negligent,  and  yet  be  guiltless. 
If  it  is  appointed  of  God  as  a  portion  of  divine  service, 
for  his  honor  and  our  good,  then  christians  must  prize 
it  highly,  sustain  it  systematically  and  liberally,  and  ex- 
pect from  it  religious  benefit  steadily  and  largely. 

Christians  must  cease  to  regard  sacred  in  the  same  light 


13)  A    PLEA    FOR    SACRED    MUSIC.  13 

with  secular  music.  Many  probably  have  so  regarded  it, 
because  it  has  been  much  in  the  hands  and  under  the  di- 
rection of  persons  not  of  religious,  and  sometimes  not 
even  of  moral  character.  How  has  this  happened]  Truly, 
because  christians  have  neglected  it ;  and  other  men  have 
taken  it  up  and  kept  it  in  existence  as  a  mere  matter  of 
taste.  Let  christians  take  sacred  music  into  their  own 
hands,  consider  it  as  much  claiming  their  care  as  prayer 
and  preaching  in  the  pulpit ;  provide  for  it  in  the  educa- 
tion of  children  and  youth,  especially,  in  the  art  of  music  ; 
and  select  and  employ  a  christian  leader  of  sacred  song 
as  much  as  they  do  a  minister  of  the  sacred  Gospel;  and 
they  will  not  then  be  troubled  with  the  interference  of 
men  destitute  of  religious  character,  nor  will  they  be  de- 
pendent upon  such  for  the  conduct  of  this  holy  service. 

Christians  must  cease  to  regard  music  as  only  appro- 
priate to  the  drawing-room,  or  scenes  of  gayety  and  fes- 
tivity, or  to  the  theatre  and  the  military  parade.  Music 
is  a  heaven-born  art ;  is  one  of  the  richest  gifts  of  a  mer- 
ciful God  to  a  world  where  sin,  confusion,  sorrow  and 
tears  have  so  much  place.  "  The  children  of  this  world" 
see  its  worth;  and  they  borrow  it  of  the  church,  so  much 
that  the  church  almost  forgets  that  it  is  one  of  her  right- 
ful possessions.  The  first  and  proper  place  of  music  on 
this  side  of  heaven  is  in  the  house  of  God.  Its  most  appro- 
priate use  is  by fr  the  great  congregation,"  in  the  worship 
of  "the  High  and  Lofty  One  wTho  inhabiteth  eternity." 

We  protest  against  christians  regarding  sacred  music 
as  an  elegant  and  expensive  luxury,  a  mere  superfluity  ia 
religious  services.  It  may  be  made  so,  it  is  true,  by  hiring 
foreign  and  merely  professional  performers,  who  serve 
the  church  on  the  Sabbath,  and  the  theatre  and  the  devil 
all  the  week.  But  employ  christian  men  to  teach  the 
children  and  youth,  and  to  train  the  older  members  of 
the  congregation,  and  to  conduct  the  musical  perform- 
ances of  the  Sabbath;  and  it  is  no  more  an  expensive 


14  A  PLEA  FOR  SACRED  MUSIC,  (14 

superfluity  than  is  education  to  read  the  Bible;  than 
prayer;  than  the  dispensation  of  the  blessed  Gospel. 

Those  christians  who  have  not  the  taste  for  music 
which  others  have,  should  be  considerate  of  their  fellow- 
christians  to  whom  it  is  pleasant,  and  ff  for  their  good  to 
edification." 

Sacred  music  must  not  be  blamed  because  it  has 
wrought,  in  so  few  places  and  on  so  limited  a  scale,  the 
benefits  we  have  ascribed  to  it.  By  liberal  patronage  and 
assiduous  cultivation  make  it  what  it  ought  to  be,  and 
then  give  it  a  fair  trial.  It  will  assuredly  prove  its  worth. 
Many  religious  assemblies  know  not  what  good  sacred 
music  is,  because  it  has  been  a  neglected  and  underva- 
lued part  of  divine  service.  When  they  will  make  it  what 
they  should,  and  to  be  in  keeping  with  good  preaching 
and  devout  prayer,  then  they  will  know  what  it  is;  and 
know,  too,  what  a  defective  and  useless  service  they 
have  long  been  substituting  and  mistaking  for  true  sacred 
music. 

Music  must  not  be  regarded  as  a  mere  art,  and  its  ef- 
fects as  a  species  of  enchantment  not  belonging  in  asso- 
ciation with  religion.  Poetry  and  eloquence  are  arts; 
and  their  power  is  great  as  employed  for  evil  purposes; 
but  who  argues,  hence,  that  they  are  to  be  discarded 
from  all  association  with  religion  ] 

Sacred  music  must  not  be  cultivated  and  sustained  sim- 
ply as  a  matter  of  taste.  It  has  often  failed  to  accomplish 
its  proper  effects  where  it  has  been  considerably  cultivat- 
ed ;  probably  because  pleasure  has  been  sought  in  its 
sweetness  and  power,  rather  than  in  the  praises  of  God, 
of  which  it  is  properly  the  medium.  To  cultivate  and 
maintain  music  in  Sabbath  services  simply  to  gratify 
taste,  would  be  sin  against  God;  as  much  as  a  minister's 
cultivating  oratory,  and  his  people  supporting  him  for 
the  purpose  of  oratorical  exhibitions  on  the  Sabbath. 

The  object  of  sacred  song  being  the  praise  of  God  and 


15)  A   PLEA    FOR    SACRED    MUSIC.  15 

the  spiritual  profit  of  worshippers,  christians  should  on 
the  Sabbath  commend  these  services  to  the  divine  blessing, 
as  steadily  as  they  do  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  and 
the  administration  of  the  ordinances.  Ministers  should 
set  their  churches  an  example,  in  praying  for  those  who 
lead  in  the  "  service  of  song."  The  effect  may  be  ines- 
timably happy. 

The  education  of  the  young  in  sacred  music  is  an  object 
of  high  importance.  Music,  as  well  as  the  reading  of  our 
own  language,  should  be  taught  in  our  common-schools  j 
and  our  children  accustomed  to  sing,  as  well  as  to  talk 
and  read.  Then,  whoever  becomes  a  christian  will  be  pre- 
pared for  the  delightful  work  of  singing  the  praises  of  God. 

Sacred  music  should  be  cultivated  in  christian  families, 
and  used  in  the  seasons  of  morning  and  evening  devotion. 
A  more  delightful  scene  cannot  be  presented  on  this  side 
heaven,  than  when  parents,  with  their  sons  and  daughters, 
surround  the  family  altar,  and  devoutly  unite  their  voices 
in  sacred  song.  Such  services  will  promote  domestic  hap- 
piness and  kind  affections.  If  there  be  affliction  in  the 
family,  grief  will  be  soothed.  Pious  feeling  will  be  aided 
in  those  who  are  christians^  and  their  steps  quickened  in 
the  way  to  heaven.  Thoughtfulness,  tenderness  of  spirit, 
and  anxiety  on  the  subject  of  salvation,  will  be  promoted 
in  such  of  the  members  as  are  without  hope.  The 
question,  "  Shall  I  never  sing  with  these  beloved  ones  in 
heaven  V  may  sometimes  come  over  the  spirit  of  the 
unconverted  one,  with  force  which  cannot  be  resisted, 
and  may  lead  to  earnest  seeking  of  the  grace  of  God* 
Transfer  this  family  to  the  sanctuary  on  the  Sabbath, 
and  they  are  prepared  to  aid  efficiently  in  the  songs  of 
the  solemn  assembly. 

If  there  be  one  occasion  when  the  whole  souls  of  the 
assembled  church  should  flow*  forth  to  their  Lord  and 
Eedeemer,  in  holier  and  livelier  devotion  than  on  any 
other,  it  is  the  ordinance  of  the  Lord's  Supper.    And  if 


16  A    PLEA   FOR    SACRED    MUSIC.  (16 

there  be  one  channel  especially  adapted  for  this  purpose, 
it  is  that  of  sacred  song".  To  celebrate  the  dying  love  of 
Christ,  in  the  tenderness  of  spirit,  the  sincerity  of  devo- 
tion; and  in  the  fervency,  gratitude,  faith  and  joy  which 
become  souls  redeemed,  nothing  affords  such  a  medium 
as  sacred  song.  Those  lines, 

M  How  sweet  and  awful  is  the  place, 
h»  M  With  Christ  within  the  doors  !" 

cannot  be  felt,  adequately,  except  they  be  sting,  and  that 
in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  around  the  Lord's  table. 
Sacramental  singing,  unhappily,  is  often  exceedingly  de 
fective.  Christian,  let  it  no  more  be  thus.  Learn  to  sing, 
that  you  may  be  prepared  to  give  honor  to  your  divine 
Redeemer  in  the  songs  of  that  holy,  heavenly  hour. 
Then,  amidst  that  scene,  will  you  make  nearest  and 
happiest  approaches  to  the  songs  of  angels  and  the 
redeemed  before  the  throne  of  God. 

On  the  subject  of  this  Tract,  we  do  not  expect  to  awa- 
ken in  all  minds  the  enthusiasm  seen  in  some  who  may 
be  called  passionately  fond  of  music.  But  we  earnestly 
desire  to  awaken  christian  conscientiousness  and  feeling 
respecting  it ;  and  to  induce  efforts  which  shall  raise  it 
to  a  higher  point  of  excellence,  usefulness  and  dignity, 
than  it  has  ever  yet  reached  in  our  country.  An  interest 
is  requisite  which  shall  be  deep,  serious,  lively,  steady; 
which  shall  hold  alliance  with  the  spirit  of  prayer,  and 
with  thirst  for  instruction  in  divine  truth,  and  for  holi- 
ness; and  which,  interwoven  with  all  the  religious  affec- 
tions, as  are  the  effects  of  the  other  services  of  the  sanc- 
tuary, shall  aid  the  growth  of  grace  in  the  hearts  of 
christians,  and  their  preparation  to  enter  upon  the  holi- 
ness and  bliss  of  eternity. 

A  premium,  offered  by  a  friend,  was  awarded  to  Rev.  Edward 
W.  Hooker,  D.  D.  author  of  this  Tract. 


A  PLEA  FOR  SACRED  MUSIC. 


»2JLXr    SHOULD   LtEJHUT   TO    SIJTG. 

Ability  to  sing  is  not  simply  the  gift  of  nature.  It  is 
in  every  case  acquired,  more  or  less  gradually,  by  means 
of  instruction,  imitation  and  practice.  Imitation  com- 
mences in  infancy,  and  instruction  should  be  given  in 
early  childhood.  The  voice  becomes  less  manageable, 
in  proportion  as  it  is  neglected,  or  suffered  to  remain 
out  of  tune  ;  and  in  adult  years  it  is  sometimes  as  dif- 
ficult to  gain  new  habits  in  this  respect,  as  to  utter  the 
sounds  of  a  foreign  language  ;  and  for  the  same  reasons. 

If  then  nature  gives  to  every  one,  when  young,  the 
power  of  producing  musical  sounds,  and  lessens  the 
power  in  subsequent  years  in  proportion  as  the  voice  is 
neglected,  it  is  plain  that  sacred  music  should  form  a 
regular  branch  of  religious  education.  And  if  the  faculty 
of  singing,  when  acquired,  is  gradually  lost  by  habitual 
neglect,  it  will  follow  that  the  practice  is  a  duty,  and  the 
neglect  a  sin. 

The  Scriptures  enjoin  upon  all,  of  every  rank  and  de- 
scription, from  the  prince  to  the  peasant,  from  the  aged 
man  to  the  infant  in  years,  the  solemn  duty  of  praise.  We 
are  bound  not  only  to  speak  in  ordinary  language,  as  in 
exhortation  and  prayer,  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God, 
but  to  sing  aloud  unto  his  name.  This  is  the  constituted 
method.  The  great  Head  of  the  church  himself  says, 
'f  Whoso  offereth  praise  glorifieth  me."  As  the  duty 
of  prayer  is  universal,  so  is  the  duty  of  praise.  "Let 
every  thing  that  hath  breath  " — every  one  that  breathes — 
"  praise  the  Lord."  Of  course  there  will  be  diversities 
of  talent.  Those  who  are  the  most  gifted  should  lead  in 
public.  Others  should  lead  only  in  private  circles,  and 
at  the  family  altar.  If  any  individual  has  really  no  voice 
for  speech  or  song,  and  can  acquire  none,  he,  and  he 
alone,  is  allowed  to  be  always  a  silent  worshipper  ;  for 
where  nothing  is  given,  nothing  is  required.  Even  such 
a  one,  however,  is  bound  to  yield  the  homage  of  the  heart 
in  relation  to  the  exercise :  for  the  duty  is  absolutely 

Universal.  Thos.  Hastings. 

No.  429. 


20  pages.) 


A   PLEA   FOR    SACKED    MUSIC. 


Sacred 'JTTusic  must  be  spiritually  performed* 

All  good  music  is  performed  with  adaptation  to  its 
object.  In  secular  music,  the  object  is  tasteful  grotifi- 
cation,  or  the  display  of  talent ;  beguiling  a  tedious  hour, 
or  giving  pleasure  to  associates  or  patrons  ;  but  in  devo- 
tional music  the  object  should  be  to  employ  the  voice  in 
favor  of  the  sentiments  contained  in  the  sacred  song.  Secu- 
lar motives,  habits  and  associations  have  here  no  place. 

Among  the  constituted  themes  of  song,  some  are  sim- 
ply didactic.  Here  we  should  aim  at  distinctness,  and 
be  awake  to  the  importance  of  the  instructions  we  con- 
vey. Some  of  the  themes  abound  in  lively  prophetic 
description.  These  had  better  be  read  than  sung,  unless 
the  members  of  the  choir  can  utter  them  with  distinct- 
ness and  effect.  Some  of  the  themes  are  of  a  hortatory 
character ;  these,  too,  should  receive  a  distinct  as  well  as 
a  persuasive  enunciation.  Many  of  the  psalms  and  hymns 
contain  the  language  of  confession,  thanksgiving  and 
praise.  And  should  not  the  singers  really  consider  and 
feel  what  they  are  presuming  to  utter  in  the  presence  of 
God  among  his  chosen  worshippers  % 

But  the  themes  are  often  of  a  still  higher  character. 
Many  of  them  are  pre-eminent  for  spirituality.  Not  a 
few  are  such  as  angels  utter  with  veiled  faces  in  the 
deepest  prostration  before  the  throne.  Something  more 
than  musical  elocution  is  here  required.  It  is  a  solemn 
thing  to  sing  such  hymns  as  these  ;  and  demands  the 
most  careful  preparation  of  heart  and  voice. 

As  habit  has  a  powerful  influence  over  our  religious 
affections,  pious  persons  should  be  willing  to  engage 
heartily,  prayerfully  and  perseveringly  in  the  work  of 
cultivation  :  they  should  do  this  as  a  religious  duty,  and 
not  chiefly  for  the  purpose  of  tasteful  gratification. 
The  members  of  a  choir  should  be  at  once  devout,  vigi- 
lant, cheerful  and  happy.  There  should  be  mutual  con- 
fidence between  them  ;  they  should  be  of  one  mind, 
affectionate  and  condescending;  and  should  often  unite 
in  exercises  of  prayer  in  reference  to  the  responsibilities 
they  are  assuming.  Where  all  this  is  wanting,  the  finest 
possible  adaptation  will  be  of  little  avail.  i™*- 

No.  429. 


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